The Haul ST: Enabling people to live a "car-light" life | March 31, 2023
This week, New Mercedes-Benz CLA is debuting soon, Kia launched a new all-electric EV9 SUV, Uber's Comfort Electric entering 14 new markets, and Shift Technologies laid off 30% of its workforce.
Issue [#181] - Every week, we deliver analysis and curation of emerging mobility news - post a job listing here!
Micromobility
Urban bike infrastructure should be remodeled to integrate different micromobility options like e-bikes, e-scooters, and cargo bikes, according to a new study conducted by the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO). The paper also suggests providing wider-protected bike lanes to all types of riders and noticeable signs and markings for extra safety / ZAGDaily
Corporate disinformation created America's deadly transportation culture, where car dependency is described differently. According to Grant Ennis, author of Dark PR: How Corporate Disinformation Undermines Our Health and the Environment, automakers, fossil fuel companies, and highway engineers have lied about the dangers of car dependency and misled people into accepting preventable deaths for their own gain, thus benefiting from the avoidable deaths of their families and the environment / StreetsBlogUSA
Autonomous driving is reshaping the world of mobility, bringing with it a chance for new brands to make their mark and the popularization of digital ecosystems. This change calls for an inevitable need to adapt. MHP, a leading consulting company and a subsidiary of Porsche, shares 8 valuable recommendations in their whitepaper on understanding the changes brought about by autonomous mobility and how companies can adapt to these changes to get the most out of them / MHP
A study by Equitable Cities identified laws discriminating against walking and rolling Black U.S. residents in all 50 states. According to the report, Black road users are more likely to be stopped by law enforcement, to suffer violence and death, and to live in communities that are financially dependent on fines and fees / StreetsBlogUSA
Product Launches & Updates
New Mercedes-Benz CLA will soon enter the EV market to battle it out with the Tesla Model 3! The upcoming electric four-door sedan will debut at the Munich motor show in September 2023 and will be offered in all-electric and mild-hybrid versions. Equipped with a new lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack and 350 kilowatts of power when charging, this EV is claimed to be the most efficient among the company’s current models / InsideEVs
Here’s a sneak peek into Kia’s new all-electric EV9 SUV! Going on sale in the second half of 2023 and based on the company’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), the EV9 SUV features an 800-volt electrical architecture, the Kia Connect Store, a curved digital screen, an advanced driver assistance system called highway driving pilot, and more / TechCrunch
The Globe’s new e-bike, the Haul ST, is on the way to becoming the friendliest and most efficient e-bike we have ever seen! Manufactured by Specialized’s once inoperative sub-brand, it comes with a mind-boggling payload capacity of 419 lbs, an exclusive 772Wh battery, a maximum range of 60 miles, with several other exciting features, and here to enable people to live a “car-light” life / The Verge
Ridehailing, Carsharing & Delivery
A former Amazon and Microsoft executive, David Risher, has been appointed as Lyft's new CEO. The ride-sharing company also announced that Logan Green and John Zimmer will step down from their respective roles as CEO and president / Skift
In an effort to protect gig workers’ rights, Seattle’s city council has passed a law that entails paid sick time off for workers of app-based delivery companies like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Instacart. Once a temporary COVID measure is now a permanent new law called the App-Based Worker Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinance and will be an example for lawmakers who are contemplating what labor rights should be given to gig workers / The Verge
Uber's Comfort Electric now operates in 14 new markets across the U.S. and Canada, highlighting the company's goal to become a zero-emission mobility platform by 2030 / TechCrunch
According to Fluctuo’s latest European Shared Mobility Index report, shared mobility operators made more than €3.1 billion in revenue from shared rides in 2022. The report also revealed that over 550 million trips were made on 850,000 vehicles across Europe, making it an average of 1.5 million trips per day, and suggests that Europe is ahead of North America in the shared mobility race / ZAGDaily
Unlike Uber and Lyft, Alto is an employee-driven ride-hailing app where drivers are categorized as actual employees with benefits like health care, sick leave, paid time off, and even a 401(k), but despite being favorable for both drivers and riders, its limited service in the Bay Area might hinder its popularity among the region’s residents / SFGate
Investment & Deals
Cabify, a multi-mobility company based in Madrid, has secured $110 million in funding to expand its operations to additional cities in Spain and Latin America. The funding round included participation from Orilla Asset Management and AXIS. Cabify aims to triple its revenue over the next three years / Tech.eu
Autonomous vehicle company Venti raised $29M in Series A funding, led by Greylock Partners, to develop self-driving vehicles for logistics hubs. Funds will be used to expand its team and further develop its technology / TechCrunch
Electric vehicle (EV) startup Canoo has settled with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for $1.5 million over accusations of fraud. The SEC accused Canoo's co-founder and former CEO of misleading investors about the company's technology and capabilities. Canoo, which plans to release its first EV in 2023, did not admit or deny the SEC's allegations but agreed to pay the fine and appoint an independent chairperson to its board. The settlement comes as Canoo seeks to go public through a merger with a unique purpose acquisition company (SPAC) / GVS
Gogoro, an electric vehicle battery-swapping company from Taiwan, is expanding to Singapore through a pilot program with Foodpanda. This follows the awarding of a sandbox pilot by Singapore’s Land Transport Authority to Gogoro for the deployment and validation of its battery-swapping technology. Gogoro has also formed a partnership with Jardine Cycle & Carriage to distribute its e-scooters and set up battery-swapping stations in Singapore / TechCrunch
Cities & Policy
Jury selection has begun for a lawsuit accusing Tesla of racial discrimination. The lawsuit, which was filed in 2021, claims that a former Tesla employee experienced racist behavior from co-workers and supervisors, including the use of racial slurs and the displaying of racist symbols / TechCrunch
Cities are looking to hyperlocal activity centers to create more sustainable and livable communities. These centers, which combine residential, commercial, and public spaces in one walkable neighborhood, can reduce the need for cars and make it easier for residents to access the services and amenities they need. To make this model work, cities must invest in infrastructure such as public transportation, bike lanes, and sidewalks and work closely with developers to ensure that new projects meet the community's needs. By creating more activity centers, cities can reduce sprawl, create more affordable housing, and promote economic growth to benefit everyone / Smart Cities Dive
Reps. Earl Blumenauer and Jamie Raskin introduced the Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Transportation Act to encourage U.S. communities to use federal safety dollars to fill gaps in city bike networks / StreetsBlogUSA
Cities worldwide are adopting parking reform to improve transportation and reduce congestion. This involves reducing or eliminating minimum parking requirements for new developments and providing more alternatives to driving. Many see this as crucial for creating more sustainable and equitable cities / Public Square
New Products, Features, and Data Points
Lucid Motors is recalling certain models of its Air electric sedan due to a potential motor issue. The company says that a few vehicles may experience a loss of power while in motion due to an error in the motor's software. While there have been no accidents or injuries related to the issue, Lucid is advising owners to have their cars inspected and repaired if necessary. The recall is a setback for Lucid, which has been generating buzz for its high-end electric vehicles and plans to challenge Tesla in the luxury EV market / Robb Report
Shift Technologies, an online used vehicle retailer, reduced its workforce by 30% in Q1 to cut costs and remove redundant positions after merging with CarLotz. The decision came after a challenging Q4, which saw a drop in revenue and an increase in operating losses / TechCrunch
Jobs Board
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Android developer at Transit - Montreal, Canada
Partner success at Transit - Montreal, Canada (open to remote candidates)
General Manager at Transit - France
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